What started as a reported shoplifting at a Clairton corner store allegedly turned into a car chase that spilled onto school grounds. A driver is accused of pursuing two juvenile boys who had just been reported for taking items from a nearby mini mart, following them onto property near the Clairton Education Center, and striking one of them. According to a criminal complaint, the incident happened on Friday and was caught on surveillance video that appears to show a car tracking the teens along a sidewalk by the district’s education center. Prosecutors have identified the driver as Ahmed Aziz, who now faces multiple charges.
What police say
According to WTAE, Allegheny County police got two calls in quick succession on Friday: the first reporting that two juveniles had stolen from Dee's Mini Mart on St. Clair Avenue, and a second reporting that a vehicle had hit a juvenile near the Clairton Education Center. A witness told officers the car accelerated toward the boys, swerved in their direction, and continued after them as they moved onto school property, according to the complaint. Investigators say surveillance footage appears to show the vehicle veering off the roadway and onto a sidewalk while following the youths.
As WTAE reported, the video also appears to capture the car clipping one boy’s leg and knocking off one of his shoes. The criminal complaint says the juveniles then ran between nearby houses to get away. Aziz is charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated assault.
Local context
The case is landing in a community already on edge over youth violence. Clairton was the site of a triple shooting in November 2024 that injured three teenagers and resulted in charges, according to WPXI. Parents and school officials have previously raised concerns about safety in and around the Clairton Education Center and the surrounding streets.
Legal implications
Aggravated assault is among the charges Aziz faces. Under Pennsylvania law, aggravated assault is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 and can be treated as a felony depending on the situation. The statute covers attempts to cause serious bodily injury and conduct that shows extreme indifference to human life, with some subsections classified as first-degree felonies, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Allegheny County prosecutors will decide which specific counts to pursue as the case moves through the courts.
Authorities have not released additional information about any arrest, bail or upcoming court dates. The criminal complaint and surveillance video referenced in coverage are included in public records reviewed by reporters, and investigators say the case remains open.
